Staff members at a library have mounted a revolt against the local council after it cancelled a controversial trans art exhibition.
Norfolk’s main library started its backlash after council leader Kay Mason Billig apologised for the display.
Workers at Norwich's Millennium Library have reportedly been rallying together to sign a petition showing their opposition to Mason Billig’s intervention.
A separate decision by managers to remove a poster describing the library as a “trans-friendly space” also raised eyebrows.
Staff at a library were raging about the decision to axe the trans exhibition
GETTY/NORWICH WOMEN'S RIGHTS GROUP
Norwich Trans Pride, which helped organise the display, slammed critics and accused them of being “bigots”.
A spokesman added: "We offer our support to the library staff who stand with us against the influx of opposition."
Addressing the removal of the poster, they also said: "We are very disappointed in this, as the library has historically been supportive of Norwich’s transgender community.
"It is very sad to see management bowing under pressure from anti-trans hate groups, especially since most of the library’s frontline staff do not agree with this, and are in fact organising an internal petition against this change."
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A trans exhibition was set upNORWICH WOMEN'S RIGHTS GROUPThe exhibition was scheduled to be held at the Forum to mark Transgender Day of Visibility.
It looked set to include pictures of hypodermic needles for injecting testosterone and sculptures and images of bodies which have had gender-reassignment surgery.
However, women’s groups vocally criticised the diplays, claiming it promoted the use of surgery and medication to young people suffering with issues about gender.
Mason Billig took to Mumsnet to personally apologise as critics labelled the exhibition a “horror show”.
She said: "I was very unhappy when I heard about this display. Staff have guidelines, and this exhibition seems to have been approved without realising the actual content.
The transgender exhibition sparked a backlash on social mediaNORWICH WOMEN'S RIGHTS GROUP"As soon as it came to my attention, I alerted senior staff and it was removed immediately. I apologise if anyone was offended but thank you very much for alerting us.
"We are open to different points of view on all subjects but there are times and places for these and we have to handle them with sensitivity and consider the impact on others, especially children.
"There will be an investigation into how and why this happened and staff will be issued with strengthened guidance for the future."
Sarah Walker, a member of the Norwich Women's Rights Group, added: "If a library was promoting anorexia or cutting or glorifying steroid abuse to children and teenagers, we’d all see it for what it is. Instead, it’s promoting self-mutilation under the banner of trans joy.
"It’s especially irresponsible in the week that the Cass Review revealed how poor the evidence base for so-called 'gender affirming care' is and how little follow-up there has been to assess regret and de-transition rates."
